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IMPROVED METHOD 0F HOLDING AND ADJUSTING SGAITOLDS,

WlLLlAM- A. DEVON, OF PORT RICHMOND, NEW YRK.'

Letters Patent Nb. 59,824, dated November 20, 1866.

, SPECIFICATION.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: i

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. DEVON, of Port Richmond, in the county of Richmond, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful improvement in securing and raising and lowering painters and Y other Platforms orv Scaffolds, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, and in which-' y Figure -1 represents a front view of a house in part with a platform or scaffold, having my improvement attached, applied thereto, and

Figure 2 a side or end view of the same, insection.

Like letters indicate corresponding parts in both figures. t v

' Though equally applicable to other purposes where the securing and raising 'or lowering of a platform or scaifold is concerned, it will suiiice here to describe my improvement as applied to a painters scaffold for outside house-work. To avoid the risks and dangers incidental to temporary scaffolding of a fixed character, as well as -to aii'ord greater convenience to the workman in altering his position, so as to work at different elevations, tackle has been used secured to some fixed point above and to the platform below, with its rope or fall descending to the latter, such tackle being duplicated and applied to the two ends of the platform and arranged to work separately and independently of each other, though designed to be worked in unison by the workmen., one at either end o/f the platform, pulling on or slackening out the falls. This is a very inconvenient and insecure way of working; firstly, because it involves the necessity of a workman at each end of the scatl'old, where one, except for working the falls, might suliiceg' and next, it is insecure, not only because there is the lashing or making tight of two ropes after the platform has been adjusted to its required elevation, but on account of the diHiculty which exists in keeping the platform level whilst raising or lowering, by reason of the workmen at either end having to Workin exact unison to avoid tilting of either end, even supposing the weight on the platform to be equally distributed, which is not always the case. My improvement obviates these dificulties, risks, and objections, and economizes labor by, ifdesired, enabling one man to adjust the sca'old. The nature of my invention consistsirstly, in passing the falls of the two end tackles which carry the platform over an intermediate sheave or pulley, or sheaves or pulleys, and attaching them below to the barrel of an ordinary-windlass or winch, or its equivalent, and soA that by turning said barrel both falls are of necessity equally drawn upon, or let out, and both simultaneously locked by putting into gear a stopper to the barrel; and my invention further consists in a combination with the platform -of' a windlass or winch on the latter, for operating the falls of the two end tackles, centre sheave or block working in contact with said tackles, and window-hooking frames to which the latter are hitched, and which, besides facilitating removal and attachment of the whole contrivancc, may also serve as supports for a second or upper and stationary platform.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, A represents the front or other Wall of a house or store impart,

' and B B its windows. C is the scaifold or platform which it is required to secure or adjust to 'any desired elevation, against the wall A. Projecting out from the windows B B, and resting on the sills thereof, are Window-hooking frames D D, preferably of a gibbet form, with their horizontal legs resting on the sills, their vertical backs on the inside of the walls, and their angular fr-ont legs made to bear at their base against the front of the wall. The horizontal legs of these frames may be slid through the-vertical backs thereof and be secured thereto by a pin passing through the back and any one of a series of holes in the horizontal leg to adjust the frame to grip diiferent thicknesses of Wall or window sills; or such adjustment may be eifected by screw or otherwise. E E are the two end tackles secured at their tops to the window-hooking frames D D,4 and at their bottoms to the ends of the platform C, it may be by lifters, a a. F is an intermediate or centre block containing sheaves, and which vmay be hitched to a rod, b, connecting the frames D D, or which maybe di`erently held, as, for instance, where there are three windows in line and the platform Ais a long one, by a third frame, D, arranged to projcct from the centre window. The falls, e c, ofthe end tackles E E, are rove through the block, F, and passed down and made fast to a winch barrel, G, by turning the handle, el, of which the platform is raised or lowered by the man on the platform accordingly as the falls are wound on or unwound from the barrel. When the platform has been suiiciently elevated or depress-ed, it may be held at its adjustment by any suitable stop to the barrel, say by throwing a catch or pawl, s, into lock with a ratchet wheel, e, on the end of the barrel. The winchl may or may not be provided with gear to increase either its power or speed, according to the weight of the lift. Y

From this .description it will be seenthat both end taickles must pull or let out alike, consequently there can be-no tilting of theplaftform. Asingle-man may, if desired, do all the work ofV adjusting the platform, and the letter belocked at the `position it is set,f in quick, simple, afnfl elicient manner. v I

Though the several-blocks may be otherwise held or supported prefer to' use Windowhooking frames as represented, which of course are-:dispensed with. for hold-fasts of a, different clmraoter or construction vWhere there are-n0 windows, es'such frames les'navh1is-l1 a. good grip and form convenient means foratteching and letzwhing the apparatus also the samemay be usedby throwing planks across their tops asrsupprorts o f or to a. secondor pper end stationaryplatformas sometimes required. A

What'l claim as new and-useful herein, and desire to secure hy Letters Patent, is-j The .ombinatiogmth-the platform (lof the winch. barrel G; falls c c,-oi` end tackles E E;'interme diete block 'FQ and window-hooking framesG- Gr, `for operation together, essentially as herein set forth.

' f l Y WM. A. DEVON. Witnesses:

' A. L1: CLERC,"

J. W. vloomuss.v 

